Minister for Sport Alister Henskens cut the ribbon to mark completion of the multi-million dollar facility, cementing NSW as the nation’s premier sporting State.
“Rugby league is such a big part of our social fabric, and this facility is an absolute game-changer for the inner west community and another major sport infrastructure project delivered by the NSW Government,” Mr Henskens said.
“From community engagement to high performance outcomes, this facility has reinvigorated the Concord Oval precinct which will help grow the sport and provide local pathways for our future NRLW and NRL stars.”
The NSW Government contributed $64.6 million towards the precinct redevelopment, including the Wests Tigers Centre of Excellence.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe believes the new facility, to be named the Zurich Centre, is a huge plus for the local area.
“We are so fortunate as an NRL club to have such a wonderful facility, one that is the envy of other sporting bodies worldwide,” Mr Pascoe said.
“It gives us something to be truly proud of and it provides our players and staff with an environment that will help them to be the very best they can be.
“Wests Tigers’ vision statement is ‘to enrich the lives of our community’, so strategically, this facility will play a pivotal role in what we do.”
A key requirement of the project was the dedicated female facilities to improve pathways for women and girls in line with the NSW Government’s Her Sport Her Way program.
The $84.5 million Concord Oval and Community Sport Precinct redevelopment provides new recreation spaces for the rapidly growing inner west population, including indoor sports courts, playground, and café and community rooms.